Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 44850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 179(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 179(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
I freeze when I realize what I’m thinking. Slater is not my man. We haven’t even kissed. I’m not getting serious about anyone. I have plans, damn it!
“Marigold, I can’t believe you. You’d choose Jan over me? You put me through three days of hard labor—labor that went into my back, I might add. Your head was so big that I had over thirty stitches, too,” she lies.
“Mom, you forget I’m a nurse who trained in the hospital you gave birth to me in. I was the quickest labor of all your children. The doctor said in his notes that I was already out and seen to by the time he made it to the delivery room.”
“You read my medical records?” she gasps.
“I’m nosy. I take after my mom.”
Mom frowns at me, giving me a stare down that has made many of my siblings hide and run from. They’re weak.
“Don’t have children, Slater. They walk on your feet when they’re little and walk on your heart when they’re older,” she grumbles, making me laugh.
“I probably won’t get that chance, Ms. Lucas.”
“Oh really? Why’s that? Are you shooting blanks?”
“What?” Slater asks, his posture changing immediately and his body shifting in his seat. I giggle. I can’t stop from it.
“There’s no shame in it, son. Don’t go defensive on me.”
“I don’t shoot blanks,” he mutters.
I really shouldn’t, but I decide to add fuel to the fire. “How do you know?” I ask.
Slater’s gaze turns to me, disbelief telegraphed on his face with every line. “Excuse me?”
“I mean, you’re a self-declared lady’s man. Do you have any kids? How do you know you’re not shooting blanks?”
I’m staring straight at him and that means I see the exact moment panic lights up on his face.
“I’m not,” he insists. “I don’t have kids because I makes sure I’m gloved up for the game.”
I can’t tell if he’s purely defensive or if he’s enjoying this as much as I am. If I had to guess, I’d say he’s feeling the heat and defensive—which makes me happy.
“All those women, all these years and not one little mishap,” I murmur, shaking my head. I look up at my mother and she’s beaming down at me as if in pride. That should be enough to make stop, but instead I’m enjoying that twinkle in her eyes.
“She’s right. A young, virile man like you in your prime?” Mom adds. “I’m thinking odds are not good that one of your little soldiers failed to report for duty.”
I give a heavy sigh. “It’s okay, Slater. Think of all the money you’ll save in child support to all the Bat-Bunnies,” I commiserate, patting his hand.
“Listen—”
“Do you know what helps with lazy soldiers, though?” Mom says, completely interrupting him.
“My soldiers are not lazy, damn it!”
“Hard work. How about we all walk down to the barn. I can show you what I need help with, Slater. Is it okay to call you, Slater?”
“Uh, yeah, it’s okay,” he says standing up. His hand reaches over for mine and I’m a bitch for doing this, but I can’t find it in me to care right now. I mean, Slater wanted to play with a Lucas. He should get to see what that really means.
I stand up, sliding against Slater’s body—just to set off Mom’s alarm system. That way, she’ll screw with him even more. I mean, that truly is part of the reason. Still, even as I’m doing it, I recognize I want to feel his body against mine. I breathe in his scent, the spicy cologne that makes my insides warm and every female bit I have tingle. I relish his strong arm coming around me, his heated touch against my back and when I look into his eyes, I see the pleasure I’m feeling reflected back.
God, I’m in trouble. Really big trouble. Slater is going to be more than I can probably handle. I should run away, but I know I’m not going to.
“I’d love to go with you two, but I can’t. I’ll be late for my shift at the nursing home.” I go up on the tips of my toes and kiss Slater’s cheek. “You have fun with Mom, Bat-Boy.”
When I pull back, I can see the moment he realizes what I’m doing.
“You’re not coming?”
“Afraid not,” I murmur, trying to hide my grin.
I step away from him, ready to make my escape when he gabs my hand and pulls me back.
“You’re not getting away that easily, Ace,” he murmurs and before I realize what he’s going to do, his lips are pressed against mine.
I gasp in shock, which was either the wrong thing to do or the very right thing, because his tongue thrusts into my mouth immediately seeking and conquering mine. He kisses me like a man dying and I’m his only hope. I couldn’t say how long the kiss goes on. It could have been mere minutes. It feels like a lifetime.